Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Malaysia
Malaysia: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 11,259 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Malaysia, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 11,259 for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 33.0% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Malaysia peaked at 17,136 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 553.95, in 2001.
That places Malaysia 34th out of 222 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,611 | — |
| 1991 | 4,043 | +54.8% |
| 1992 | 5,138 | +27.1% |
| 1993 | 5,741 | +11.7% |
| 1994 | 4,581 | -20.2% |
| 1995 | 5,815 | +26.9% |
| 1996 | 7,297 | +25.5% |
| 1997 | 6,323 | -13.3% |
| 1998 | 2,714 | -57.1% |
| 1999 | 3,895 | +43.5% |
| 2000 | 3,788 | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 553.95 | -85.4% |
| 2002 | 3,203 | +478.3% |
| 2003 | 2,473 | -22.8% |
| 2004 | 4,624 | +87.0% |
| 2005 | 4,065 | -12.1% |
| 2006 | 6,060 | +49.1% |
| 2007 | 8,595 | +41.8% |
| 2008 | 7,172 | -16.6% |
| 2009 | 1,453 | -79.7% |
| 2010 | 9,060 | +523.5% |
| 2011 | 12,198 | +34.6% |
| 2012 | 9,239 | -24.3% |
| 2013 | 12,116 | +31.1% |
| 2014 | 10,877 | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 10,082 | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 11,336 | +12.4% |
| 2017 | 9,399 | -17.1% |
| 2018 | 7,618 | -18.9% |
| 2019 | 7,813 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 3,160 | -59.6% |
| 2021 | 12,173 | +285.3% |
| 2022 | 17,136 | +40.8% |
| 2023 | 8,468 | -50.6% |
| 2024 | 11,259 | +33.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 11,259 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 926.87, 12.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 11,259 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 857.11, 13.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +523.5% | 1,453 | 9,060 |
| 2002 | +478.3% | 553.95 | 3,203 |
| 2021 | +285.3% | 3,160 | 12,173 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,816 | 2,611 | 7,297 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,199 | 553.95 | 8,595 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,974 | 7,618 | 12,198 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,439 | 3,160 | 17,136 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More economy & growth data for Malaysia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 13.04 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0309 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 366.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.59 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 96.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0369 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 438.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Malaysia?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Malaysia was 11,259 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 17,136 in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 553.95 in 2001.
- How does Malaysia rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Malaysia ranks 34th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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